Automobile signal



V. A. DUTY.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL. V Armenian FILED mun-191s,

Patented Aug. 5, 1919.

0 a we 7' I ATTORNEY VERNON A. IDO'I'Y, 0! WEST SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

A'U'TQMOBILE-SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 5, 1919.

Application Med January 7, 1816. Serial No. 70.865.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VERNON A. Dorrr, a. citizen of the United States, residing at West Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile-Signals; of which the following is a specification.

My present invention has relation to improvements in automobile signals; and asits primary object, it contemplatesthe provlslon of a novel device of this character. that is especially desi ed to be used for the purpose of indicating the direction of the auto mobile to pedestrians as well as the operators of machines travelin therebehind and which by reason of its nove construction is easy to operate, and may be quickly attached to or detached from the conventional form of antomobile.

A further object of my invention is to provide a, device of the type in question that is extremely simple in construction, strong and durable, andhighly practical from both the standpoint of the manufacturer endithe standpoint of the user; and which, it is believed, may be manufactured at 3, comparetively low cost.

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent during the continuance of the following description.

These iohjectsare accomplished, by such means as are shown in'their preferred firm in the accompanyin drewings, describe in the following specl cation and then more specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like characters designate like parts through out the several views:-

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of, my invention showing thdz same as applied to a dashboard and. suspfinded from a windshield of an ordinary utomobile; I Fig. 2 is a view in top plan of the device; Fig. 3 is it view in section of one of the signal heads and thecover housing therefor; the head .heing shown positioned in the houslll l ig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the head exteriorly of'the housing;

Fig. 5 is a view showing more clearly the manner of assembling the body of the device;

Fig. 6' is a view in cross section showing more clearly the construction of a novel form of bracket that is employed in connectin the body of the device to the respective winc shield 01' other structure of the automobile.

In reducing my invention to practice, I first rovidc a body structure 10 that is met crab y hollow throughout the greater or tion of its longitudinal extent and whic is provided at suitable points with longitudinally extendin receiving slots 11 and 12 respectively. 'l his body structure may be formed of any suitable or desirable material; however, it is pointed out that a hollow metallic rod will suflice.

I now provide suitable cover housings 13 and 14 each of which is open at its free end, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, while their other ends merge into the sleeve portions 15 and 16; the latter being screw threaded about a portion of their length. as shown in Fig. 5,

for a purpose that will subsequently appear. The sleeve portions 15 and 16 above referred to, are prefcrablymade of the same diame r ter as the body structure 10 whereby a common coupling, such as designated by the um mere] 17 may be associated thercabout. for the pur ose of obtaining; a secure conned tion. he inner periphery of these been ings 17 are preferably screw threaded as shown to cooperate with the screw lj hrcadcd portions of the sleeves 15 and 16: and the ends of the body structure 10, th s accomplishing the desired connection.

ousings being arranged at each end of the body structure, as shown in Figs. 1 land 2, are independently detachable, as, is obvious, so

. that either one may be removed or replaced without in any way afiecting the. elliciency of the devi. or necessitating the dismembering of that other housing.

In order to facilitate the attachment of the body structure to certain portitns of the autumn ,ile upon which it is desi ed to be used, I provide each of the bearings 17 with suithble brackets 18 (see Fig. 1) fwhirh, in the present embodiment, are enga' ed with the lower rim of the wind-shield. is however is a mere arbitrary feature and other means may be employed to attach the body structure to the automobile, if it is so dcsired. r

I further rovide suitable carrying rods 19 and 20 w ich may be mounted to slide he cover withirq the body structure and the respective lighting of the lamp,

circuit throu h sleeves 15 and 16, the rods being in turn grovided with adjustable studs 21 and 2 to roject through the slots 11 and 12 of the dy structure whereby they may be con venlently manipulated. At their outer ends the rods 19 and 20 are provided with ahead portion 23 which, in the present embodiment, is in the form of an arrow head, and of a construction whereby it will normally seat snugly within the res ective cover housings 13 and 14. The head 23 above referred 0, may be formed of any desirable material and is preferabl cut out as at 24 sufliciently to receivean or inary dry cell 25 and again, laterally, as at 26 to form an opening throu h which the electric light or lamp 27 may e viewed. Interiorly of the out out ortions'24 of the res ective head, I rovide Binding posts 28 and QQ to which tile electrical conductors 30 from the cell 25 may be connected, and a switch arm 81 that projects slightly beyond the cut out portions 24 to close the circuit between the binding posts at certain times to light the light, as is obvious. On the other hand, I provide each of the cover housings 13 and 14 with a transversely arranged actuating mem'ber 32, with which the switch arm 31 may beengaged both ppon the drawing of the respective head into the cover housing and the removal of the head therefrom. This provides for the opening and closing of the switch and the consequent such as will he prcsently described. The actuatingmember 32 above referred to, is mounted to oscillate slightly with res crt to the cover housings whereby the switc 1 arm is allowed to pass by the switch-engaging member after closing the latter and after opening the latter.

Upon drawing the respective head 23 into the cover housing, the projecting end of the switch arm 31 will be engaged with the actuatin member 32 whereby the switch arm \vill he swung on its pivotal support so as to break the circuit between the respective binding posts 28 and 29. Thus the the electric lamp will-also rokcn. 'owcver, upon moving the respective headsfrom the co er housing, the switch arm will again be engaged by the actuatingmemher and this time moved into a position whereby it will close the circuit between the respective binding mute, and thus the lump will helighted. liy reason of thecut away portions 24, it will be seen that, the 0 ll 25 which in the present embodiment ay he in the form of the ordinary hand cell may he removed or replaced with great ease.

in operation of my invention is substantially as follows lVhon traveling upon a straight road or under ordinary circumstances, both of the rods 19 and 20 may be positioned as shown in Fig. 2 whereby the respective head portions 23 will lie within the cover housings l3 and 14. en in this position, as above stated, the switch arm 31 of each of the head members will be in an open position. owever, should the operator of the machine desire to turn to the right the arm 20 may be moved to the position shown in Fig. 1, whereby immediately upon movement of the respective head thereof, the switch arm will be moved into a closed position through the instrumentality of the actuating member 82 thereb lighting the'respective electric light. While not limitin myself to the specific coloring of the hen s 28 it is' pointed out that they may be of difl erent colors sons to be of use in the day time without necessitating the lighting of the electric globes. When desired to operate the heads without lighting the globes, the actuating members 32 may be turned into a position whereby they will not be engaged with the respective switch arms during movement of the heads. Furtl-cimoro, itwill he reco nizcd that the device, as a Whole is readil fy attachable or detachable to or from the automobile and when in place does not in any way interfere with the operation of the machine or obstruct the view of the operator. On the other hand, the operator may actuate the respective arms 19 and 20 without leaving his post. of duty and in an easy and expeditious manner.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily understood and, there fore-further detail description is deemed unnecessary.

' In reducing my invention to practice I findthat the form referred to herein as the 'most practical and preferred embodiment is the most efficient, but realizing that certain conditions will necessarily vary in concurrence-with the adoption of my device, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in the details of construction and in the proportion of parts may be resorted to when required without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention as defined in the aplplended claim.

. aving thus fully what I c aim as no Letters Patent is: In a signaling device, an illuminating ale men t, a housing therefor, means for moving said illuminating el naling position to its signaling position, a switch arm carried by and projecting above the upper ed e of said illuminating elemenhhmd an actil ating member mounted within the housing adjacent the upper edge of the illuminating filament, adapted in the normal operation 0 the devir-c to contact cribed my invention, nd desire to secure by ement from its n-on-sig Lri with the switcl} arm t0 efi'ect illumination by In testimony whereof I afiix my signature said illnrninatmg element at the begmning in PI'PSPIHB of two witnesses. of movement of the latter to a signaling 0- VERNON A DUTY sition, said member being capable of osci la- 5 tory movement. whereby the 'same may be \Vilnesses:

' positioned so as to allow the said switch arm VVILLIAM E. DoTY,

t0 pass Without contacting therewith. GRACE E. DUTY. 

